So, no more PMQs until September, but there are still tomorrow's three by-elections to come and plenty more politics coverage to read:

• Our political editor Chris Mason's blog on the by elections is here
• You'll find our report on PM Rishi Sunak's apology to LGBT veterans here
• You can catch up on the reaction to this morning's inflation figures here

Our coverage today has been edited by Heather Sharp and Andrew Humphrey. It was written by Adam Durbin, Thomas Mackintosh, Gem O'Reilly, Jennifer McKiernan, Chas Geiger and Ali Abbas Ahmadi.

Image source, Uk Parliament / PA

That's it - almost - from us, as we're about to close our coverage of the final PMQs before Parliament's summer recess. Let's just have a quick recap of today's key moments:

• The Prime Minister started by apologising to LGBT armed forces veterans for what he described as their "horrific" treatment in the armed forces under a previous ban on homosexuality
• It was welcomed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other MPs during the PMQs session
• Sunak and Starmer traded jibes on their economic policies and approaches to tackling the NHS waiting list backlog and boosting the health service's workforce
• Other backbench MPs questioned Sunak on issues including conversion therapy, homelessness and tackling climate change

Marcus O’Brien and Robert Cuffe
BBC Verify

During PMQs, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed there are 400,000 fewer children in poverty since 2010.

He is right according to one measure that the government uses.

But, the UK’s stats watchdog – the Office for Statistics Regulation – has warned different ways of counting give very different pictures, external.

Sunak uses a poverty line based on 2010-11 incomes – called “absolute” poverty.

That measure has fallen by 400,000 between 2010 and 2022 (the latest available), down to 2.3 million.

The other main measure - “relative” poverty - uses a poverty line based on today’s incomes.

It suggests child poverty has risen from 2.8 million to three million children over the same period.

Rishi Sunak's apology has been welcomed by former British Army Officer Catherine Dixon, who says she "shame, humiliation and a ruined military career" because of her sexuality.

Dixon, who is now vice-chair at LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, says the apology and announcements "are an important step to achieving justice" for people who suffered while serving in the armed forces.

Stonewall is "proud to have played a key role in overturning the ban in the courts" when it was lifted in 2000, she says

Dixon adds the charity has worked with military over the years to "support their journey" to being an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, as well as making sure veterans received today's apology and any necessary support.

Image source, Emma Riley

LGBT veterans have told of their "relief" after Rishi Sunak's apology over how they were treated in the military for being gay.

Emma Riley, 51, was arrested and discharged from her role as a Royal Navy radio operator because she is a lesbian, said she felt "relief" following the PM's apology and hoped recommendations would be implemented swiftly.

But Ken Wright, 62, who was sacked from his job as an RAF Police Officer because he was gay and said it was difficult "to feel reconciled all of a sudden today" because it "scars you for life".

Carol Morgan, who was also dismissed for being gay said she had been "robbed" of her life.

You can read more here.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also tells the MPs that veterans who didn't receive medals at the time will now be able to get them.

Answering a question from independent MP Margaret Ferrier, Wallace says veterans will also be able to wear uniform at Remembrance parades.

Wallace picks up some of the questions from Labour's Rachel Hopkins about some of the detail of implementing the report's recommendations.

The defence secretary says the government will be working closely with the charity Fighting With Pride, which supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ Veterans, service personnel and their families.

He says some things "are not as straight forward".

Then, Wallace explains, as an example, some may want a separate LGBT veteran badge whereas others may not.

Financial provision schemes will need to be well thought through, he adds.

Image source, House of Commons

Shadow Defence Minister Rachel Hopkins says Labour strongly welcomes Rishi Sunak's apology over the treatment of LGBT veterans.

She says the review represents important progress in recognising the injustice LGBT+ veterans have suffered.

Hopkins says it was right for the government to launch the review.

She adds: "LGBT+ veterans put their lives as risk to protect our country. They were our nation's heroes yet suffered a serious injustice."

As a consequence of the ban, Hopkins says, around 20,000 LGBT+ military personnel were jailed, dismissed, abused or outed to their families because of their sexuality.

Hopkins then talks about the "disgraceful use of electric shock therapy" saying "no one in society should be subjected to this."

And she asks Wallace for more detail about how the government will respond to the report's recommendations.

Rishi Sunak's apology comes after a long-awaited report into the treatment of LGBT veterans was published on Wednesday.

The LGBT Veterans Independent Review, led by Britain's first openly gay judge Lord Terence Etherton, launched last year and heard evidence from 1,145 people who were affected by the ban.

Here's a summary of its key findings:

• Many faced invasive medical examinations and intrusive police investigations over their sexuality
• In some cases, as recently as 1996, they were sent to prison
• Many still have a criminal record to this day
• Some veterans also faced a complete loss of income as they were dismissed from the military
• Others were deemed ineligible to claim their pension

As well as detailing personal experiences, Etherton's report also makes 49 recommendations to the government.

Among these are the restoration of medals that had to be handed back on dismissal or discharge, the clarification of pension rights and the presentation of the veterans badge.

You can read our story on the apology and the report's findings here. You can find the full review here., external

Wallace says the government accepts the vast majority of the Etherton's report's recommendations in principle, but will deal with them in more depth after the summer recess.

Wallace continues to say today's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is a "very different place" from the late 1960s-90s.

"Our LGBT colleagues are an integral part of the defence family," Wallace adds.

"There is no place for prejudice in today's modern armed forces."

Wallace admits "cultural change takes time", but says it is important to note the armed forces would not be in the position it is in now if it wasn't for people fighting for change.

In his closing remarks, Wallace quotes one veteran who says: "I don't feel like a veteran - I don't feel like my service was recognised."

Wallace says: "You are one of us - you have proven yourself to be the best of us." He again apologises for historic wrongs.

More from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who expresses his thanks and gratitude to Lord Etherton and his team who compiled a "comprehensive" report, published today (we'll bring you more on the detail of it soon).

He pays tribute to those who have come forward to tell their stories and speak about their traumas.

"The testimony make truly harrowing reading," he says.

Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence is in the House of Commons talking about the apology to LGBT members of the armed forces.

We will bring you more as we get it.

Lucy Gilder
BBC Verify

Image source, EPA

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told MPs "rough sleeping levels are about a third lower in 2022 compared to the peak in 2017”.

The latest available figures, external show there were 3,069 people estimated to be sleeping rough in England in Autumn 2022.

That is a 35% decrease on the number recorded in 2017 when there were 4,751 rough sleepers.

So Sunak is correct.

However, if you compare the current number of rough sleepers with 2010 levels - the year the Conservatives came to power - there has been an increase of nearly three quarters.

Data only provides a snapshot of people recorded as sleeping rough on a single night between October and November every year - so actual numbers may be higher.

If you missed the top of PMQs, the session began with PM Rishi Sunak issuing an official apology for the treatment of LGBT veterans after they were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay.

Thousands of people are thought to have been affected by the ban, which lasted until the year 2000.

Here's a quick summary of what he and Labour leader Keir Starmer had to say about it:

• The PM said the ban was an "appalling failure of the British state"
• He acknowledged "many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment, all while bravely serving this country"
• Sunak expressed hope that those affected would be able to feel pride as part of "the veteran community that has done so much to keep our country safe"
• After the PM spoke, Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed the apology in recognition of the "historic mistreatment" of LGBT veterans
• He added Labour was "proud to repeal the ban" when it was in office

Read more here

Another frenetic Prime Minister's Questions. Let's have a quick look at the key takeaways from the last hour or so in Parliament:

• The prime minister started by apologising on behalf of the government for the "horrific" historic treatment of LGBT people serving in the military
• Rishi Sunak acknowledged a damning report which detailed historic homophobia in the armed forces that was prevalent in the British army for decades
• Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the apology, and said one of his constituents was in parliament to hear it in person
• The Labour leader then quizzed Sunak over NHS waiting times - pointing out they have got longer since he took office
• Sunak hit back at Starmer, talking about strikes and failing to take a position on public sector pay
• Green MP Caroline Lucas said the government has failed to keep pace with its net zero target, but Sunak insisted the UK has decarbonised quicker than anyone else
• Sunak also welcomed a new battery factory being built in Somerset

Image source, House of Commons

Finally, DUP MP Carla Lockhart spoke about two children who lost their battle with cancer in her constituency.

She said families need more support and the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) needs a review.

"A three-month wait is just too long," she says.

Sunak thanks Lockhart for raising the issue and says he will look into it.

Conservative MP David Davis also raised concerns around the closure of Nigel Farage's bank account. He asked the prime minister whether he could require every bank to inform the Treasury of all the accounts they have closed for non-commercial reasons.

Sunak said he intends to crack down on the practice by "toughening the rules" around account closures, and reiterated that the financial ombudsman was available for those with complaints.

Labour's Barry Sheerman recalls that, seven years ago, Sunak was a passionate supporter of Brexit along with Boris Johnson.

He quotes former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major as saying that decision was "catastrophic" for people's standards of living and "deeply damaging" to the UK's status and influence in the world.

Sunak says "we need to move forward". Since the UK left the single market, he adds, its economy has grown faster than Germany's, France's or Italy's.

And the UK is "highly respected" on the world stage, the PM insists, citing last week's Nato summit.

Conservative MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs select committee Alicia Kearns used her question at PMQs to welcome the PM's earlier apology to LGBT veterans. She asked Rishi Sunak about the latest on the long-planned conversion therapy ban.

Sunak said conversion therapy was an "abhorrent practice" and the minister for women and equalities would continue to update the House of Commons on progress.

Robert Cuffe
BBC Verify

The prime minister told MPs that the government is going “to deliver on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals across the country by 2030”.

The National Audit Office – which monitors public spending – says that, by the definition set out in 2020, the target will be missed, and only 32 will be built in time. That’s according to a report published this month.

It also said that the government has used a "broad" definition of "new", which includes refurbishment of existing buildings as well as completely new hospitals.

Recent government statements about building 40 new hospitals include eight projects that weren’t included in the original plans - work on those projects had already started at the time.

Read more here